Packaged endless drive belt



Sept. 28, 1954 P. L. FRANCOIS 2,690,253

PACKAGED ENDLESS DRIVE BELT Filed Feb. 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORA' E VS p 8, 1954 P. FRANCOIS 2,690,253

PACKAGED ENDLESS DRIVE BELT Filed Feb. 19, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR. A. QM

Patented Sept. 28, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PACKAGED'ENDLESS DBKIVEBEL'I Paul'L. Francois, slim-mugs. J.- I ADDlicationFebruary 19, 151,Serial No.gil;6fZ5

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a packaged belt, and particularly to a packaged endless fan-belt of the kind commonly sold for use in automobiles.

Such endless fan-belts are sold largely in automobile service stations where they are stored and displayed under conditions which are likely to cause deterioration by dust and handling, and by exposure tothe air. The general object of the invention is to provide a packaged belt inwhich the belt will be protected from deterioration and the freshness of the label will be preserved, and which will permit the packaged belt to be suspended so that it can be readily stored and displayed to prospective customers. In one of the forms of the invention hereinafter described, the packaged belt is provided in a novel manner with a label which cooperates with the cover of the package. I

The invention will be understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a packaged belt embodying one form of the invention having an opening near one end for suspending the packaged belt; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a packaged belt similar to the one shown in Fig. 1, but provided with openings near each end; Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2' looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of another embodiment of the invention; and Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line 6-8 of of Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows.

In all of the figures, the endless belt which is arranged in loop form is referred to by the reference character Ill. In the two forms of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the belt Iii is shown retained in its loop form by the usual cardboard sleeve l2 the outer surfaces of which may carry the usual printed matter giving size, applications, brand, etc.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. l, the belt It in the sleeve I2 is enclosed in an elongated flattened tubular container M of impervious transparent flexible sheet material such as Pliofilm which is heat sealed at both ends as indicated at [6 and I8 in known manner which hermetically unites the ends of the tube. To provide for suspension of the packaged belt in the usual way on a bracket rod 20, the front and or substantial circular area in the center of which a hole 23 is punched. Thus the hole 23 is surrounded by a united double thickness of the transparent material which imparts to the latter at that place considerable strength, so that tearing of the material when the packaged belt is suspended on the rod 20 is prevented. Thus the belt is protected from deterioration while it is being stored, displayed and handled, because it is hermetically sealed within the Pliofilm tube I4, the reading matter printed on the sleeve is readily visible, and dirt, dust and grease are readily wiped off.

The form of the invention shown in Figs. 2 and 3 differs from the form shown in Fig. 1 only in that there are two holes 23 and 25 surrounded by a double layer of the Pliofilm tube near and within both of the looped ends of the belt It.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 5 and 6, instead of the cardboard sleeve l2 previously described, a sheet of cardboard or other rigid or semi-rigid sheet material 26 is included within the Pliofilm tubular container it. This sheet 26, which serves as a label may carry printed matter on both sides, is provided with a hole 28 which is somewhat larger in diameter than the outer diameter of the annular portion 22 of the portions of the Pliofilm tube M which are sealed together around the hole 23. As shown in 'Figs. 5 and 6, the sheet-material member 25 is preferably made wide enough so that it overlaps at least a portion of the belt H! which is retained in its looped form by and within the Pliofilm tubular container l4. Thus the: belt [0, the member 26 and the Pliofilm tubular container M are retained in proper relationship. The member 26 is prevented from shifting about inside the package since it is locked in place by the heat sealed area 22 around the hole 23, and being too wide to pass through the loop of the belt, it stays on one side thereof.

As will be obvious, all of the illustrated embodiments of the invention provide a packaged endless belt which may be hung vertically on a rod 20 or the like. If two holes are provided, the packaged belt may be suspended horizontally on a pair of rods o-r hooks. The belt may of course be readily removed from the package by tearing oif the Pliofilm tubular container l4 and removing the cardboard sleeve [2 or the cardboard member 26.

What is claimed is:

l. A packaged endless fan belt or the like com prising, an endless belt, a label associated therewith, said belt and said label being enclosed together in an elongated flattened tubular container of transparent, flexible heat-sealable material, the ends of the container being sealed, the two opposite walls of material of the container being heat sealed together over a substantial area within a looped end of the belt, within which area and spaced from the margin thereof there is an opening to receive suspending means, whereby said sealed area surrounding said opening provides a united double thickness of the material of the container serving as reinforcement to prevent tearing by said suspending means.

2. The packaged belt of claim 1 wherein said container has a heat sealed area having an opening spaced from the margin thereof at each end within the looped ends of the belt.

3. The packaged belt of claim 1 wherein said label is provided with a hole of such size as to accommodate all of said heat sealed area, said sealed area lying within said hole to prevent shifting of said label Within the transparent container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

